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Lexus has revealed the latest Inspiration Series, a new limited-edition run for the 2024 LC500 coupe and convertible. The special edition adds front bumper canards, a limited-slip differential, and rear performance dampers to help with performance. Production will be limited to just 125 units for North America, with pricing starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the convertible. Lexus just announced the latest Inspiration Series for the 2024 LC500 coupe and convertible models—sorry LC500h hybrid, better luck next time. This special-edition Inspiration Series will be limited to just 125 cars for North America, including 33 coupes and 92 convertibles. Unsurprisingly, the special-edition cars carry a hefty premium over the standard production siblings, with pricing starting at $116,700 for the coupe and $121,900 for the convertible. LexusBoth the coupe and convertible add canards to the front bumper, which are meant to balance front-end lift at higher speeds. The Inspiration Series coupe also adds a carbon-fiber fixed rear wing to keep the rear end planted. On top of that, both models gain a standard Torsen limited-slip differential along with rear performance dampers—both items from the LC’s optional Sport package. The coupe version also incorporates the convertible’s front and rear underfloor braces, and, as a bonus comes with a standard carbon-fiber roof. LexusMore on the LC500In addition to the performance upgrades, the Inspiration Series cars also get unique styling details. The coupe models get a combination of Polar Surge Satin white exterior paint with Deep Blue upholstery for the interior, marking the first time this color pairing is available for the LC. The convertible comes with the same color scheme, but goes a step further with the blue scheme and comes equipped with a blue fabric soft top. According to Lexus, the Inspiration Series should begin arriving at dealerships early this fall. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More

Faraday Future, an EV startup based in California, has announced that it has delivered its first FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance, a 1050-hp electric crossover.The automaker has had a troubled past, with years of financial challenges delaying deliveries as Faraday Future sought more funding.The company says it is “actively signing purchase agreements” with more potential customers for the $309,000 SUV.Faraday Future has faced constant struggles since unveiling its electric FF 91 crossover at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2017. There were lawsuits from suppliers and a factory in Las Vegas that never materialized, and the company’s founder filed for bankruptcy in 2019. But Faraday Future reemerged in 2021 by going public on the Nasdaq stock exchange, and the embattled startup now says it has finally delivered its first production vehicle, handing over an FF 91 2.0 Futurist Alliance at a recent event.Deliveries of the FF 91 were originally slated to begin in 2018, but financial troubles continually delayed the car. Faraday Future acquired its factory—a former Pirelli tire plant—in Hanford, California, in late 2017 and claimed to have built its first “production intent” prototype in February 2022. But the initially delivery target of late 2022 was pushed back yet again as the company sought additional funding. Now it appears that Faraday Future finally has solid footing, securing enough money earlier this month to start deliveries of road-ready FF 91s.Faraday FutureFaraday Future provided a photo of the smiling customers with their new machine and said this first owner is affiliated with Private Collection Motors, a luxury car dealership in Costa Mesa, California. However, Faraday Future’s delivery process is shrouded in marketing jargon, with the company describing itself as “the pioneer of the Ultimate Intelligent TechLuxury ultra spire market in the intelligent EV era” and referencing its prospective customers as “spire users” and “Developer Co-Creators.” First Owner or First User?The choice of the word “user” instead of “owner” in Faraday Future’s press release make us question whether this initial FF 91 was paid for or is being gifted or loaned. The so-called “Developer Co-Creator” title appears to involve turning the customers into partners to boost the value of the company, granting early access to the car in return for “consulting, branding, and other arrangements with FF in exchange for fees ranging from approximately $225,000 to $475,000,” according to the company.More EV Startup NewsThe first FF 91 to be delivered was a special edition model called the 2.0 Futurist Alliance, which costs $309,000 before the destination charge. The FF 91’s 142.0-kWh battery pack is rated for an EPA-estimated 381 miles of range and feeds three motors that churn out 1050 horsepower, rocketing the FF 91 to 60 mph in a claimed 2.3 seconds.Faraday Future says it is “actively signing purchase agreements” with more customers and says each of its “spire users” will receive “unique and unparalleled . . . customized delivery ceremonies.” We will continue to keep a close eye on Faraday Future as the automaker continues its slow rollout of the FF 91, and we hope to get our hands on an example soon.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

The Tesla Model S and Model X’s base prices have dropped by $10,000 due to new Standard Range models.The Model S now starts at $79,880, but its EPA-estimated range is 320 miles compared with the pricier 405-mile model.The Model X now starts at $89,880, but its EPA-estimated range is 269 miles versus the more expensive version, which has a 348-mile estimate.The price of new Teslas has been up and down and moving all around. Over the past year or so, the company has adjusted the cost of its four models myriad times, and now the Model S and Model X can be had for $10,000 less than last week following the introduction of new Standard Range models.Model S and X Price DropsTesla yesterday launched shorter-range variants of the Model S and Model X, as reported by Reuters. The Model S Standard Range carries a $79,880 base price, which costs $10K less than the next-level dual-motor model. However, the discounted price comes with a lot less EPA-estimated range—320 versus 405 miles. The tri-motor Model S Plaid currently starts at $109,880 and advertises 396 miles of range.TeslaThe Model X Standard Range starts at $89,880 and has an EPA-estimated range of 269 miles per charge. That’s exactly $10K less than the longer-range model, which has a considerably longer 348-mile estimate. Meanwhile, the tri-motor Model X Plaid currently starts at $109,880 and advertises 333 miles of range.Tesla Price ChangesThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Monterey Car Week has descended upon us once again, gracing our eyes and ears with some of the most extravagant and exclusive offerings from the automotive world. Each year some of the wealthiest automotive enthusiasts from around the globe converge in Monterey, California, for a week of fossil-fueled posturing. The strutting isn’t all for show, though, and the crown of Car Week—the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance—is widely considered the premier car show in the world. Winning a Pebble ribbon means an instant jump in a car’s valuation and marks immense status in the world of collector cars. With very few exceptions, cars accepted to the Concours are not allowed to return within a 10-year period unless they have changed ownership and are freshly restored (or they are an original preservation car).If that all sounds as interesting to you as it does to us, you can still enjoy the show, even without spending hundreds of dollars for a ticket. Like years past, we’ll have reporters on the ground scouting our favorites, and we’ll be liveblogging here on the site. We’ll also be uploading regularly to our Instagram, so make sure to check that out for the best sights and sounds. The options below are also helpful if you’re looking to get information straight from the horse’s mouth.Pebble Beach Motoring Classic (August 7–20)Sure, most of the cars around Monterey Car Week probably see less pavement than that project rotting behind your house, but that won’t be true for the entrants of the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic. Starting August 8, the entrants will depart from Kirkland, Washington, taking a relaxed eight days to drive roughly 1500 miles, before arriving in Monterey, California. Last year’s entrance fee for one car and two people totaled $14,000 and did not include accommodations in Monterey. Unfortunately, this one will be hard to tune in to unless you can get yourself to the route. As the cars are being driven by the owners, they probably won’t be spending their drive uploading to Instagram. Pebble Beach ConcoursRolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion (August 16–19)Some of the rarest race cars in history will spend the four days between August 17 and August 20 racing around Laguna Seca Raceway. Some 550 cars were invited, with the main focus this year on the 70th anniversary of the Corvette. In addition to Corvettes of every generation, there’ll be historic Formula 1 cars, Trans Am racers, and IMSA cars from the 1970s. There should be a stream on the Laguna Seca Youtube channel, or follow on social using these tags: #RolexReunion #MontereyCarWeek #WeatherTechRaceway. More Car Week InfoLegends of the Autobahn (August 17)The American clubs for Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz join together every year to host an all-German marque Concours d’Elegance held in Pacific Grove, California. Follow these tags and accounts on Instagram for photos and videos: #legendsoftheautobahn @bmwcca @audiclubna @mercedesbenzclubofamerica.The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering (August 18)The Quail prides itself as being the most glamorous of the Pebble events, even if the main reason everyone’s there—the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance—is happening two days later. This year’s featured themes include the 50th Anniversary of the 1973 RS Carrera, Porsche 959s, the Bentley 1950s R-Type Coupe, and Eyes on Italian Design. Keep tabs with #thequail on August 18.Adam Swords/The QuailConcorso Italiano (August 19)Italian cars strike directly to the heart of the automotive world, and Concorso Italiano is focused on as many as 1000 Italian cars and motorcycles. Follow @concorsoitaliano and #concorsoitaliano for more information. Concours d’Lemons California (August 19)If reading about all of these obscenely rich owners of classic and exotic cars has you feeling sick about the single wrinkly dollar bill in your wallet, unwind with the deliberately wacky Concours d’Lemons. Follow @concoursdlemons and #concoursdlemons on August 19, or check out the Lemons website for more info and a recap video.Eddie AltermanPebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (August 20)If your bank account looks anything like ours, you probably don’t have the cash to shell out $525 per ticket and lots more on hotels and food. Thankfully, you can stream the Concours d’Elegance on August 20. Bookmark the official Pebble Beach livestream and make yourself a nice cocktail with your best liquor. It’ll still be cheaper than the drinks on the lawn in California, and no one will judge you for incorrectly tying your bowtie. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More